Brussels, 14/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European Union is speeding up its preparations for deployment of its military mission for the training and restructuring of the Armed Forces of Mali (EUTM Mali), Michael Mann, spokesperson to Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, confirmed on Monday 14 January, the day after the military operation by France was launched (see EUROPE 10762).
With the emergency intervention of French Rafale fighter aircraft from Friday evening, which are still continuing their mission to halt the southwards advance of terrorists from the north, in comliance with UN Security Council resolution 2085, the High Representative made no new declaration on Monday, but concern was ever-present over the weekend and still continued late on Monday within the EU Crisis Platform, which carried out an overview with all of the competent services (European External Action Service, ECHO, DG Development of the European Commission), he told the European press. “This will give France the opportunity to debrief its partners”, he said. And on Tuesday 15 January, it will be the turn of the Political and Security Committee (COPS) to meet.
“Over the weekend, there were constant meetings here (in Brussels: Ed) and in New York at the Security Council. We are in permanent contact with our European and international partners. President José Manuel Barroso met the French president François Hollande in Marseilles at the weekend. The fact that there have been no new declarations is due to the fact that our basic position is unchanged”, Mann said. Commission President José Manuel Barroso stated that the situation requires an increased commitment of aid to Mali to regain the integrity of its territory and “expressed our political support for France's action”, the spokesperson stated, reiterating that any combat force role by the EU has been ruled out.
In reply to the Malian president's letter formally asking for the deployment of the EU mission, which was received on 24 December, the EU is continuing its preparation. “Currently we are picking up speed. For the moment, the launch of the mission is planned for the second half of February or the beginning of March”. And he added: “We are ready to envisage funding the AFISMA (international support force for Mali led by the Africans) and the ECOWAS mission”, the initial elements of which are in the process of deployment.
In Cairo, where he met the secretary general of the Arab League on Monday, President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy talked about the situation in Mali and repeated the urgency of stopping the rebel groups and of helping the Malian government recover full control of its territory and of progressing in the reconciliation process. British Prime Minister David Cameron assured France of his support. “So we were first out of the blocks, as it were, to say to the French 'we'll help you, we'll work with you'”, he said in an interview with the BBC. (AN/transl.fl)